The Abiding, 11min., USA
Directed by Ally May
A lonely woman reminieces about the three great loves of her life while she decides if trying again is a risk worth taking.

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?
Honestly, my motivation was/is to take every opportunity to develop as a director. I was at a festival, I had a room, a crew and actors, so I put it together really fast and shot it.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to make this film?
I wrote the script several years ago and had it sitting in my computer. Then I got the bright idea to shoot in about a month before we did. So, realistically, about a month.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Intimate, mature.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The biggest obstacle was blocking the scenes. We did not have access to the hotel room until the day we shot, so had no time to plan out blocking.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking about your film in the feedback video?
The first woman was very sterile, it seemed like she hadn't watched it and was just reading text. The other two that gave feedback seemed very genuine and thoughtful.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
When I was a child.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Too hard to answer truthfully. Star Wars, The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Bridget Jones Diaries, My Life as a Dog, The English Patient, The Piano, Splendor in the Grass. I've seen the movies I love so many times I can't keep track. I watch them over and over, to learn from, to cheer me up, to calm me down, to inspire me.

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking career?
As a director, the thing I need most is to be connected with people in search of my skill set. So help us actually make connections with producers looking for directors.

9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences been working on the festival platform site?
Always good and always reliable.

10. What is your favorite meal?
Risotto with fresh peas and asparagus.

11. What is next for you? A new film?
I'm shooting my first feature film in October. STAGULATION - A woman strangled by routine begins to unravel when the past—both imagined and real—starts to dance around her.